Independence Day 2015 – Just After Sunset
A new Pyrotechnic company had been hired by the Woodland Springs town board to perform the community Fourth Of July fireworks show this year. The Company President was a Fireworks Artisan who simply went by the name Thomas. He was a mysterious individual who required complete privacy for himself, and his “pyrotechnic team”. What he delivered was the most spectacular pyrotechnic display ever seen! The band nearby began playing the Star-Spangled Banner as an intricate gargantuan American flag firework shot onto the dark canvas of the night sky. Then things slowly built into the greatest fireworks show I ever saw in my life! Julia Hathaway, our Telekinetic Psychic, sensed something odd as the crowd cheered wildly over the amazing artistry of the glittering iridescent light display.
She looked over at the erected wooden wall behind which the fireworks were coming from. Her curiosity got the better of her as she walked over. The entire area was fenced in except for a small door that said KEEP OUT! It was locked from the inside via a combination lock. Julia could feel the metallic energy of the lock and used her telekinesis to slowly turn the lock wheels into the correct combinations. Eventually, she was able to psychically release the latch. She opened the door, and Julia’s eyes grew wide as a young man in his early 20’s was literally shooting concentrated fire beams from his hands that manifested as blasting fireworks in the dark skies above!
He turned around shocked as he noticed Julia. Thomas halted his show not sure what to do next. Julia immediately sent him a calming telepathic message to his mind and urged him to finish the show. He ended the legendary luminous display with intricate images of all the US Presidents, and the message, “God Bless America!” He let out a sigh of relief while sweating profusely. This one-man show netted him $9,285 with no need to pay any pesky employees!
Julia introduced herself, and he told some of his story to a fellow psychokinetic power player. He was a rare child born of a PSI power couple. A talented Pyrokinetic Father, and Photokinetic Mother. He inherited a wondrous combination of fire and light manipulation powers that allowed him to do many things including putting on one hell of a fireworks show. Julia brought him over to the Mystic Investigations group, and we all went to dinner together at Phil’s Old Fashioned Malt Shop. Thomas told us about his life as we consumed burgers, fries, and magnificent chocolate malt shakes.
Thomas spoke of the mysterious death of his parents at age 14 along with his adoption by a previously unknown “Uncle Brimstone” who took him under his wing as a prized protege. Clearly, the Sorcerer Brimstone was manipulating him for use in his personal Armageddon Army. At age 17 Thomas was already questioning Brimstone’s true nature. A dark nature Brimstone kept less, and less hidden as he attempted to bring Thomas into his dark fold. Then to his horror he found out it was Brimstone who killed his parents!
After learning this shocking revelation Thomas bolted, and went out on his own. At first, he did magic shows but realized he would become too famous thereby allowing Brimstone to find him. So Thomas finally settled on doing Fireworks shows since most people would focus on that rather than on him personally. Other than a company name most people have no idea who is putting on firework shows. It was also convenient not to set down roots, and have a job that kept him moving to stay one step ahead of his former magical mentor.
Thomas was tired of running but he was no match for a powerful Sorcerer like Brimstone who was a one-time disciple of the King Of Hell Dimitri Diablo. We told him that Brimstone has connections around the world, and it would be only a matter of time before he was found. After speaking to him at length we convinced him it was time to stay and fight for his freedom on Independence Day! We also decided it was the perfect opportunity to take out a prophesied major player in Armageddon.
Brimstone was in the first battle, and that was enough! We offered Thomas lodging at our magically protected Safe House in the Enchanted Woodland. Just a stones throw away from Rebecca, and me at Remington Manor. The house itself had a variety of protection spells and enchantments placed upon it for maximum supernatural security! Rebecca, a top-flight Demi-Mermaid Witch, was devising a magical attack strategy against Brimstone. Our 5th generation vampire Drake, Ex-Navy Seal Hunter Jackson and Julia decided to stay at the safe house to protect Thomas.
July 5th, 2015 – Sunday Morning
The night was uneventful, and Sunday morning we obligated our colleague Father Tom Davis’s usual weekly request to attend his boring…I mean beautiful church services. All of us, including Thomas, sat in the pews listening to Father Tom’s sermon. Actually, Drake couldn’t attend due to the sunlight, and his aversion to holy church’s. Drake’s avoidance of the church has led the Father to often worry about Drake’s immortal soul…LOL! Most of us had dozed off as Father Tom’s soothing voice sent us away to dream land. Hunter even lied down on the floor respectfully using a Bible as a pillow. 🙂 Suddenly there was a huge crash as wooden splinters flew everywhere, and people were screaming like crazy. It jolted us awake, and we turned around to see the Sorcerer Brimstone in his flowing robe snidely smiling while loudly declaring,”I do believe this church service is over! You little sheep can all leave now, or be slaughtered later! I’m only here for my boy Thomas!”
Father Tom angrily dashed up to the tall Sorcerer of darkness while many church goers dashed for the blasted smoking exit now devoid of doors. The Father held his arms in front of him with a Bible in one hand, and a Crucifix in the other while saying, “The power of Christ compels you! Be gone spawn of Hell!” The Father then motioned for his choir boys to spritz Brimstone with holy water. Brimstone spat some of the water out, and wiped his face with a blue satin hanky before chuckling a bit, and replying, “Really? Do you think your silly God has any power over my magnificent magic? You will learn what true power really is little man!”
Brimstone raised his hands attempting to shoot deadly magical energies from them but only a few amber sparks appeared as the rest of us were ready to pounce on him. He was shocked for a moment while the Father said, “You were saying? Filthy servant of Satan!” Rebecca chimed in, “Yeah Poindexter we know you only rose to power once you pledged your allegiance to the Devil! You do realize that makes you vulnerable to holy artifacts?” I also added, “What kind of an idiotic Sorcerer calls upon anyone but themselves for power? You’re nothing but a low rent Warlock!” We all laughed at Brimmy as his face turned bright red with embarrassment.
Brimstone then calmed down a bit, and replied solemnly, “Thomas come home with me. You’re like a son to me. Things will be different this time I promise my dear boy.” Thomas stepped forward, and seriously stressed, “How can things be different when I have proof you murdered my parents just to use me for your nefarious purposes? If you weren’t above human law you’d be in prison or worse by now! I’ll die before I ever go anywhere with you!” Brimstone angrily responded, “This isn’t over boy! You might be right! You may very well die. That is unless I can drag you home, and lock you up in a cage until I decide what to do with you!”
Brimstone snapped his fingers causing a puff of red fire flashing smoke to engulf him. He was supposed to teleport within it but he only coughed as it cleared. We all laughed as he looked beyond embarrassed. He did it again except this time as the smoke cleared we saw him running out the door which made us laugh even harder. We looked outside and the third time was a charm. Once outside the walls of the holy church, he was able to teleport away. Although our small group was laughing at this joke of a Sorcerer the other church attendees were scared. They gasped in disbelief. Father Tom calmed them down, and said, “See folks what the power of the Holy Lord can accomplish even in the face of pure demonic evil!” We contemplated staying in the church as a safe haven but Rebecca knew this was a one-time thing. The Sorcerer Brimstone would most likely see this as a wake-up call, and attempt to do his own magic free of any demonic worship.
Julia sensed that the Safe House and all our homes were compromised. In fact, Brim’s henchmen were staking out everyone’s place including Drake Alexander’s Mystical Forest mansion. However, those particular henchmen mysteriously disappeared seconds after he spotted them. We all decided our fortified headquarters was the best place to await Brimstone’s inevitable attack. Thankfully we have emergency bedding in the office so we could get some sleep while taking turns keeping watch. Luckily as a vampire, Drake could easily stay up all night. Before bed, we ate dinner atop our roof garden under the stars. For dessert, Thomas lit a fire in his pyrokinetic hands, and we roasted marshmallows making S’mores. He told us he didn’t want anyone to get hurt and would leave town. We made it clear our mission was to help those in need and repel the forces of evil at all costs no matter how powerful they may be! 🙂
